SCOUT'S HONOUR: LOUIS DIGS IN FOR HIS OFFICIAL ROYAL DEBUT

JOINING HIS PARENTS AND SIBLINGS IN THE BIG HELP OUT ON BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY, PRINCE LOUIS WAS HANDS ON AT HIS FIRST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

- LESLEY JONES

The end of the long coronation weekend was marked by The Big Help Out - and one young royal did his best to make a difference on his very first official public engagement.

Prince Louis joined big brother George, nine, sister Charlotte, eight, and their parents the Prince and Princess of Wales at Slough in Berkshire, where they teamed up with the 3rd Upton Scouts to make improvements to their hut.

Wearing shorts, trainers and a stripy polo shirt, the determined five-year-old mucked in with the rest of the volunteers to set an example to the thousands of other helpers who had also given up time on their Bank Holiday Monday to devote to good causes.

The newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla had invited the nation to do their bit, in a bid to raise awareness of volunteering and provide opportunities for people to experience how lending a helping hand could make a difference in their communities.

An enthusiastic Louis climbed on to his dad's knee to help him work the controls of a mini digger, as Prince William, 40, scooped and dumped piles of soil in the hut's garden grounds. Then Louis had a go at steering a laden wheelbarrow, with Kate, 41, at his side to guide him. When it was Louis’ turn to get involved with sprucing up some planters with a lick of paint, he took to the task with gusto.